Linear guide/feed module with guide body and boom for it

Abstract

A linear guide/feed module has a tubular boom movable along a movement axis, a housing encompassing the tubular boom so that the boom is travelable out of and into the housing along the movement axis, a drive unit for driving the boom to move in relation to the housing, at least two recirculating rolling element rows supporting the boom in the housing for its movement in relation to the housing along the movement axis and spaced apart from each other in a circumference direction around the movement axis, with each of the recirculating rolling element rows having a force-loaded rolling element carrying segment extending essentially in a direction of the movement axis and an essentially unloaded rolling element return segment, and a guide body encompassing the boom at least in segments in the circumferential direction, provided in the housing and having rolling element passages of the rolling element return segments formed into it as well as raceways on a housing side of the rolling element carrying segments of the at least two rolling element rows.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A linear guide/feed module, comprising a tubular boom movable along a movement axis; a housing encompassing said tubular boom so that said boom is travelable out of and into said housing along said movement axis; a drive unit for driving said boom to move in relation to said housing; at least two recirculating rolling element rows supporting said boom in said housing for its movement in relation to said housing along said movement axis and spaced apart from each other in a circumference direction around said movement axis, each of said recirculating rolling element rows having a force-loaded rolling element carrying segment extending essentially in a direction of said movement axis and an essentially unloaded rolling element return segment; a guide body encompassing said boom at least in segments in the circumferential direction, said guide body being provided in said housing and having rolling element passages of said rolling element return segments formed into said guide body as well as raceways on a housing side of said rolling element carrying segments of said at least two rolling element rows. 
     
     
       2. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said guide body has a U-shaped cross-section viewed in an intersecting plane orthogonal to said movement axis, said raceways on said housing side of said rolling element carrying segments being provided in end regions of freely extending legs of said U-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
       3. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 1 , wherein more than two of said recirculating rolling element rows are provided. 
     
     
       4. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 3 , wherein at least two adjacent ones of said recirculating rolling element rows are combined to form a rolling element row unit, forming a rolling element row pair and having essentially parallel rolling element recirculation paths. 
     
     
       5. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 4 , wherein a spacing in the circumference direction between said two rolling element rows or two rolling element row units lies between 145° and 225°. 
     
     
       6. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said spacing in the circumference direction lies between 160° and 200°. 
     
     
       7. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said spacing in the circumference direction is substantially 180°. 
     
     
       8. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said guide body is configured as separate from said housing and has an alignment geometry which, in an assembled state of the feed module, cooperates with a counterpart alignment geometry of said housing to fix a position of said guide body at least in the circumference direction and to orient said guide body in relation to said movement axis. 
     
     
       9. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said alignment geometry and said counterpart alignment geometry each have at least two contact surfaces or counterpart contact surfaces, which are angularly offset from each other around an angular offset axis parallel to said movement axis. 
     
     
       10. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said at least two contact surfaces are configured as flat surfaces. 
     
     
       11. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said at least two contact surfaces and two counterpart contact surfaces each enclose a right angle. 
     
     
       12. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said boom encloses at least a section of a movement output part of said drive unit. 
     
     
       13. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said drive unit includes an electric motor provided with a device that converts a rotating motion into a linear translatory motion. 
     
     
       14. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said device is a ball-type linear drive. 
     
     
       15. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said drive unit includes a ball-type linear drive with a spindle protruding into said boom, said spindle having a longitudinal end which is oriented away from a motor and is supported by a slider on an inner circumferential surface of said boom. 
     
     
       16. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said guide bodies are provided and spaced axially apart from one another in a direction of said movement axis. 
     
     
       17. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said boom has a profile that is closed when viewed in a section orthogonal to said movement axis. 
     
     
       18. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said boom is composed of steel. 
     
     
       19. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said boom has a substantially constant wall thickness in the circumference direction. 
     
     
       20. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said boom has an inner circumferential surface that is cylindrical at least in sections in the circumference direction. 
     
     
       21. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said boom has at least two substantially flat contact surfaces. 
     
     
       22. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said substantially flat contact surfaces are provided on an outer circumference of said boom. 
     
     
       23. A linear guide/feed module as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said boom has an inner circumference provided with recesses which extend in a radial direction in relation to said movement axis and extend in a direction of said movement axis.